How you can prevent it from installing on your computer ?As we discussed in the last post, many free tools and utilities come with bundled software, which is installed when you install the host software. However with legitimate installs, there's usually a way to deselect the "additional" installs.
The purpose of this post is to walk you through the install of a typical free utility, in this case
Foxit Reader, to show how you can avoid having the bundled software installed, in this case the
Ask Toolbar.
As with all installs, you start by clicking on the installer file.
You'll then be notified by User Account Control (UAC) that a program wants to make changes to your system, and since you want to install the program, you'll allow them.
There will now be an introductory Window, with an instruction to hit
Next to continue the install.
The next Window is usually the End User Licence Agreement (EULA). You should always read these, since they tell you exactly what you're signing up for when you install the program.
If the creator of the program seems to have lots of rights but few responsibilities, and the installer of the program seems to have lots of responsibilities but few rights, then it might be a good idea to bail out at this point.
However, in this case the EULA is acceptable to you, so you make sure the
I accept the agreement box is checked, then hit
Next.
There will now follow a series of Windows asking you where you want to put the program, what settings (if any) you want to set up etc. etc.
Most people just accept the default settings and click
Next, and you should too, but that does not mean you should not read what is written in the Windows, it is essential that you do not allow yourself to be lulled into the habit of blindly clicking
Next ...
...
because hidden amongst all those Windows, will be one something like this. It will usually (but not always) be somewhere towards the end of the install, since the producer wants to have got you into the habit of blindly clicking
Next, so that you'll install the bundled program that is going to make him some money.
As I said at the beginning, Foxit Reader installs the
Ask Toolbar, but you'll notice it doesn't call it the Ask Toolbar, instead it's named the
PDF Creator Toolbar, in an attempt to make it seem like it's an essential part of the install.
You'll also notice that it's pre-checked for install. As I said, the producer wants you to install the program, so he's pre-checked it in the hope you'll just click through without reading what you've just agreed to install.
However, if you don't want to install this useless piece of junk (and who would), then at this point you should
uncheck the two pre-checked boxes and then click
NextYou can now proceed with the rest of the install, and the unwanted bundled programs should
not be installed.
Closing thoughts ...At this point I'd like to repeat something I said in my earlier post. The producer of the tool or utility you want to install is not acting illegally by doing this, or even immorally, though because of the way he's tried to manipulate your actions, his morals are perhaps a little questionable. He's just trying to earn a little money for all the time and effort he's put into producing his product.
Don't feel however, that you should therefore install the bundled programs so that he gets paid. If you want to recompense the producer, you might consider making him a personal donation, most tool and utility producers have PayPal links on their sites. Maybe if more people had made a personal donation for the product they're happy to use, he wouldn't have had to prostitute himself by including these junk installs with his product.
Recently ... a program has been created that automatically
unchecks many of the pre-checked install options for you, so when you install some useful utility, you should not get the bundled "junk" that comes with it, its name is ...
Unchecky ... watch the video and you'll see how it works.